Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Collins for raising what is an important issue. It is an issue that is regularly vented in both Houses.I come across it regularly in my constituency, as does the Senator. It is important that we try to put in context why we as a State are encouraging renewable energy, and the importance of it.

It is important that people in communities engage collectively and also with the developer in the first instance. Some of the developers do not make enough effort to engage with the local community and that is regrettable. Of course, it is, as set out in law, available to any citizen or group to make submissions to the local authority or, indeed, to An Coimisiún Pleanála in relation to issues so that proper planning is followed. That is part of the process generally.

As an island nation with one of the best wind resources in the world, Ireland is uniquely positioned to lead Europe's renewable electricity future. We are a world leader in onshore wind. As I said, we get a greater share of our electricity - approximately 35% - from onshore wind farms than anywhere else in Europe. That is important in terms of decarbonising our economy. Deploying onshore wind at scale reduces our reliance on imported fossil fuels, which are subject, as the Senator will be aware, to volatile global markets. By generating electricity domestically, it will stabilise and potentially lower energy prices for consumers. I set that out to put a context on why wind farms and solar farms are an important part of our energy mix.

Analysis that has been done by the ESRI suggests that early delivery of onshore wind this decade will drive down wholesale electricity prices by up to 10%. That is important for homeowners and it is important, from an Irish perspective, in terms of attracting jobs to Ireland.

Another clear advantage of offshore wind development, particularly for rural communities, as the Senator will be familiar with, lies in the opportunity it affords to meaningful community benefit. Under the renewable electricity support scheme, all projects receiving State support are required to establish a community benefit fund. These funds ensure that host communities share directly in the value generated by the wind energy. They enable investment in community facilities, educational initiatives and local energy efficiency measures.

I set that out in the full knowledge that somebody who does not want a wind turbine close to their home sees little benefit in that community gain because they see others benefiting from it and they feel there is an imposition on them. It is not for me to lecture anybody. I see some communities and people who have real concerns and then the wind turbines are there a while and they accept them.

There is a lot of concern about the devaluation of property but, in truth, it does not materialise. There is an initial shock to say, "Who would ever buy my home?" Most homes will never be for sale anyway, quite frankly, because they are people's homes. So long as there is proper planning and appropriate measures are taken, it generally works out reasonably well. It is still important that communities engage collectively, come together and seek the best professional advice in terms of making submissions - there is nothing wrong with that. I meet people who are supportive of renewable energy but say, "This might be a little bit too much for my community." The system is there to protect everybody. If people, first of all, look at the really positive benefits of taking out fossil fuels from the energy mix and of recognising that there is potential gain for the community and juxtapose that with what might be their objections and engage with the planning process fully, there is an opportunity to work through all of that.